Chapter Twenty-Seven

The next morning, I woke to the sun shining in my room and the birds singing. Looking beside me, the spot was empty.  I frowned sitting up, glancing around and spotted a piece of paper on my night stand.

A note telling me Paul had headed home or in his case Emily's house to take a shower and eat. Emily had given Paul a room. I was a little bummed about him leaving but I couldn't stop smiling.

This was a gentle side of my hot head no one rarely saw and I loved that I was the one who could bring it out.

Sighing in content, I stretched and got out of bed, grabbing my bathrobe and kit and headed to take a shower. I took a hot quick one and got out, going back into my bedroom and flew to my closet.

I got dressed putting on a purple tank, adding a black crop top with a shoulder down that showed the purple tank strap and a pair of my jeans. I decided to go all natural with my makeup today, my man loved me with or without this stuff. Grabbing a hair tie off my vanity as I passed, I shoved my feet into a pair of ankle boots and grabbed my bag heading out.

Walking down the stairs I tied my hair up into a loose ponytail, I was only going to hang out with Jacob so I thought it was pointless to go all out for someone who's my little brother and not my boyfriend.

Reaching the bottom of the stairs. Charlie came out of the kitchen with a beer in his hand.

"You going somewhere?"

"Uh yeah thought I'd go hang with Jake."  I said slipping into my jacket.

"Sounds good, have fun." He told me moving to the couch, he paused for a moment. "You and Lahote have been spending a lot of time together... are you two uh-" He paused looking nervous about what he was going to ask, I understood it completely.

"No." I told him confirming. "Paul and I are dating but that's it. I promise we're not doing anything else."

"Good." He mumbled nodding his head. "That's good. You should bring him around sometimes."  I looked at him. "Invite him to dinner.... Maybe this weekend?"

I stared at my uncle for the longest time, he wasn't being mean or awkward, he was actually being supportive and trusting.

I smiled at him.

"I'll do that." I said nodding heading for the door. "I'll be back in time to make dinner"

"Say hey to Billy!" Charlie shouted after me.

Heading outside, I skipped down the stairs and over to my wrangler, feeling like I haven't been behind my own wheel in ages. I slide in and shut the door, flipping my heat on.

I waited for the jeep to warm up a little and backed out.

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It took me my normal time to get to the Black's small house, it started raining so it was getting cold. Parking my jeep, I turned off the engine and smiled at the red house I haven't seen in ages.

Bringing my jacket closer, I hurried around back to the garage and made eye contact with Billy through the window, he waved smiling at me. He knew why I was here. I gave him a quick smile.

Loud music met my ears as I pulled open the door and stepped into the warm garage.

A head snapped towards me. Jacob was the only one here.

"Elena?" He asked sounding surprised. "What are you doing here?"

"We're supposed to hang out remember?" I asked raising an eyebrow.

"You done sucking face with Lahote? Finally remember your friends?" He asked.

I stared at him, glaring lightly and crossed my arms.

"Jacob we've talked about this."

"You haven't hung out with us in months, you're always off with Lahote or hanging out at Uley's girlfriends." He said continuing to spat. "Which is beyond me... do you not remember how Sam broke Leah's heart and now he's dating her cousin?"

I sighed, it was hard for me not tell him the truth but I kept my mouth shut and calmed my temper, reminding myself this was one of my best friends.

"I haven't been around because I've been helping take care of Bella." I told him shrugging. "You know my cousin who has been having nightmares every night since that whole wood thing?"

Jake's face changed like he forgot about that and slowly sighed nodding.

It wasn't a complete lie, I have been taking care of my cousin.

"Right now I just needed to get out of the house and spend some down time with the guys."

Jake saw the look on my face and came over to me, pulling me into a hug. I slowly hugged him back in a friendly way."

"Sorry Angel I've just missed you." I heard him say.

I pulled back, stepping out of his arms a little.

"I've missed you guys too." I muttered smiling. "So what's your project this time?"

"Well I finished the rabbit, so I'm still searching for something new."

I nodded before a familiar sound of an engine caught my attention, coming up the gravel.

"That sounds like Bella's truck."

Jacob looked out the window of the garage and smiled.

"It is Bella..." He said opening the door.

We walked outside,  Bella sat behind the wheel for a second putting the vehicle into park and got out, the heavy door had a loud creak making my head hurt.

"Bella, where the hell have you been loco?" Jake asked rushing up to her, he picked my cousin up and spun her around.

I blinked in slight surprise seeing my best friend staring at my cousin. When did they get so close..

"I thought you had work.?" I asked turning from Jacob to my cousin.

"It's my day off." She answered rather quickly, she seemed happy, turning to Jacob with a big smile. "I brought you something."

Heading towards the back of the truck, she pulled back a tarp, uncovering two very beat up looking motorcycles. My eyes narrowed seeing them.

I crossed my arms, staring my cousin down.

"Those better not be what I think they are." I told her firmly.

"Scrap metal, you shouldn't have." Jake said at the same time, sarcastically.

"I saved them from the junk yard." Bella explained slowly. "So I was hoping you could fix them up and teach us how to ride."

Jacob took a step towards the two bikes, glancing them over and shook his head.

"I understand they're less than they look but then I remembered Elena said she had a mechanic type best friend who liked projects and fixing things."

"That would be me." Jacob mused, leaning against the truck, staring at the bikes.

"They look like a lot of work, parts missing could be expensive."

"I can afford it." Bella said shrugging it off.

I stared hard at Jacob.

"Bella are you out of your mind?" I asked speaking up for the first time in a while. "What's Charlie going to think?"

"Charlie won't find out."

"He will if I decide to tell him.." I told her making her eyes go wide.

"Lena please don't.."

"After what you did a couple nights ago you are lucky I haven't told Charlie about that." I told her glaring. "It was stupid and reckless, Charlie's worried about you enough and now you want to make him worry more?"

"I promise I won't do it again, I'll be careful."

I stared my cousin down, rolling my eyes and turned on Jacob, looking at him to talk some sense into my crazy cousin.

Jacob stood there quietly for a moment, I could see the wheels turning in his head, but when he looked at Bella, I saw a change in his eye almost crush like and smiled at her.

"When do we start?"

"Now?" Bella asked hopefully.

Jacob just chuckled at her and moved to pull the bikes off.

Bella started to follow but I stopped her, grabbing onto her arm, pulling her to the side, out of Jake's earshot.

"Okay so what's really going on?" I asked firmly.

"Nothing I swear." She told me pulling away from my grip.

"Isabella Marie Swan!I swear if you don't tell me-"

She shushed me.

"Okay I'll tell you." She muttered quietly. "That night I rode on a motorcycle, I swore I saw him.... I saw Edward."

I stared at her for a few minutes before sighing.

"Bells."

"Look I know how it sounds but I swear I see him, it's only for a quick second, a glance but it's enough."

I frowned, she frowned back.

"Please Lena, just let me have this.."

Staring into my cousins eyes, I could see her aura turning into sadness, this was the first time she's seemed happy in months and I didn't want her to return to her zombie like prison.  I sighed nodding.

"If you get hurt I'm telling Charlie." I told her watching Jacob lower one of the bikes off and wheeled it into the garage

I stopped sensing something watching us. I turned spotting Sam flanked by Paul and Jared. They were staring at Jacob with such ferocity. Paul's eyes were already turned in my direction. I'm sure they heard mine and Bella's conversation. I could see bags under his eyes, it made me frown a little.

I remembered this morning, it was around midnight when I had that scary nightmare, and he came to check on me. He must have been exhausted from working day and night but he still had time for me.

My eyes went from my shifter to Sam... who's eyes turned to mine.  I knew what they were waiting for, it's part of the reason I've been checking up on him lately.

He gave me a small nod, turning to go into the woods. Paul and I gave each other another glance, he flashed me his award-winning smile.

'I love you' I heard him think making my heart flutter.

I smiled at him watching him trail after Sam and Jared.

Jacob came back out to grab the second bike drawing my attention.

"It's getting late, we should get home, it's dinner time" I said stepping forward.

"But-"

"Jacob can do this tomorrow, when there's light." I told her firmly.

She glanced at Jake who nodded, lowering the second bike and grabbed the tarp Bella had over them, folding it up. Rolling the bike into the garage.

He muttered a quick goodbye, Bella turned to the truck.

I turned to Jacob, giving him a small smile and headed to the wrangler.

Bella and I went home separately.

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The next day standing in the kitchen, I finished washing my dishes from a quick lunch and turned drying my hands off and turned grabbing my bags and keys, heading into the living room to pick up a wooden crate of teas and stuff.

"Okay I'm out of here." I said turning to Charlie sitting on the couch. "Movie night at Emily's, I'll be home late, dinner is in the fridge like always."

"Okay sweetheart." Charlie told me tearing his eyes from the game for a second. "Drive safe, say hey to Billy and remember to ask Lahote about this weekend."

"Will do." I told him giving him a quick kiss on the cheek and then high tailed it to my jeep hoping to sneak away.

I was just opening the boot setting my crate into the back, closing it and opened my door when Bella came running out of the house, yelling for me.

'Goddess'  I thought turning to my cousin.

"Are you going to see Jacob?"

"Uh yeah." I answered slowly. "I have some stuff to drop off, hang with Jacob."

"Do you mind if I tag along?" She asked hopefully.

"I'm headed to Emily's right after." I added looking her over. "I'm spending time with Paul, and having our movie night, I won't be home till really late."

"You've been spending a lot of time down there lately."

Taking a deep breath, I stared at her contemplating. It's not that I didn't want her to come with me but it's more of I didn't want her around anymore of my people. It's bad enough she got caught up in the Cullen's world and look where that got them.

If she ever found out about the pack, found out about Paul and something happened to him. I would never forgive her; our relationship would be done.

"Paul and I are dating."

Her eyes went wide, in confusion, I couldn't see into her mind but I could practically sense she was processing those few words, like she was trying to confirm what she heard.

"Really? Since when?"

"We've been together for a several months now..." I trailed off thinking of the day he shifted and imprinted on me. It made my heart flutter. I couldn't exactly tell her that.  "I wanted to tell you but you haven't really been around."

"Does Charlie know?"

I nodded.

"Everyone knows." I told her.

"Oh.. so I'm the last one." She muttered staring at her feet.  Her face fell and her shoulders slumped like she was disappointed.

It made me feel bad.

"How about we go hang out with Jake, and I'll let you drive the jeep back." I told her giving her a gentle look. "I'll have Paul pick me up from the Blacks when we're done and I'll just teleport home."

Although I didn't want her to hang out with my people, I didn't want to risk her going back into her zombie mode. She was my older cousin even if I think I should have been born first and she needed me.

"Really?"

I nodded.

"As long as you don't mind me making a few stops." I added tossing my bags into the back bench. "And you don't ask any questions."

She looked at me for a minute in confusion before nodding her head and walked over to the passenger seat and I got into the drivers.

I started the jeep up and pulled my phone out texting Paul as I waited for the vehicle to heat up.

Paul responded no less than a few seconds, I smiled reading the tiny words.

Sending a reply, I set my phone down and backed out, taking off.

I could see Bella watching me out of the corner of my eye.

-----

We didn't speak much the entire drive, I always loved driving down to La Push, it was one of the most beautiful places to be but for the first time there was tension in my car and I didn't like it. Bella just looked out the window.

When we parked in front of the Black's house. I smiled hopping out. I grabbed the crate from the back and met Bella at the hood.

"I have to drop this off with Billy, just give me a few minutes.' I told her giving her a firm look. "Wait here and remember our deal, no questions."

She stayed silent, just nodding. I could tell she was curious.

I made my way up to the door and like always Billy was already at the door, giving me a friendly smile.

"Elena."

"Hey Billy." I greeted smiling.

He glanced around me spotting Bella and gave me a curious look, before rolling aside and letting me inside.

Walking in I sat the crate on his counter, he closed the door.

"Sorry I couldn't leave her home." I told him smiling gently. "She begged and I thought this would be good for her...get out of the house."

"I understand." He told me with a fatherly smile.

"I promise she doesn't know the tribe secret." I told him making him nod, I patted the lid of my crate. "There are a couple new flavors this month, I found an old Rose tea recipe in Gram's book at the house."

Billy looked at me at the mention of my Grams.

"I heard David had left you the house, has there been any problems?" He asked.

"No, I mean it's a little strange being there without them." I told him nodding lightly. "It's too quiet... my Grams never liked silence."

He nodded in understanding.

"If you need any help, just ask.." He told me smirking. "I'm sure Paul would help fill the void."

I nearly choked on my spit, staring at the old man seeing a michevous grin on his face, I covered myself.

"I uh... I'm gonna head out back then.." I added trying to get away from the sudden awkward conversation. I headed for the door, remembering something and turned back slightly. "By the way, has Jacob been showing signs?"

"It should be soon." Billy told me making me frown a little.

I gave a small nod before giving him a quick hug and headed back out. Bella was still standing at the hood.  I nodded at her to follow. She came towards me, and headed over to the garage.

Entering I was met with sounds of tinkering and smiled.

Two motorcycles the ones Bella had brought were standing in the middle of the room, a blanket on the floor covered in several parts and tools.

"Looks like someone's having fun." I muttered.

Jacob's dark head looked up from one of the bikes, giving me a large grin.

"Angel! Bella!"

"Didn't you just get these last night?" Bella said standing awkwardly in the doorway.  She looked nervous.

I gave her an amused look and bumped shoulders with her, nodding at her to come in.

"Bella this is Jacob." I told her earning two different looks. "Once he gets a new project, he never thinks about anything else... last time this happened we had to stage an intervention."  I smirked remembering."

Jake rolled his eyes in amusement, giving me a light smile.

"Yeah I started tinkering with it last night after you guys left." Jacob admitted, turning back to what he was doing.

I walked over to him and sat down on my normal spot on a bench and glanced around.

"Where's Quil and Embry at?"

"They should be here." Jake said going back to tinkering. "Embry had to help his mom at the shop."

I nodded.

Bella came to sit next to me, I reached into a cooler and pulled out a couple cans of root beer and handed her a can. She smiled at me in thanks. Jacob went on about how much he had to spend to fix them up, and how much more he would have to spend.

The next hour passed by, the three of us talking about everything, including Jacob saying a few things about Paul which I brushed off. I knew he wasn't happy about me dating him but there was nothing he could to about it.

Finally the door to the garage swung open.

"Yo Jake! Elena!" I heard Quil's loud voice, announcing his and Embry's arrival.

Bella sat up nearly jumping to cover the bike.

"Bella calm down." I told her in amusement.

"It's cool." Jake added. "It's just my boys."

"You're boys?" I asked scoffing as Embry and Quil came into view.

I smiled at them.

"Bella that's Quil and Embry." I told her nodding in their direction, glaring at Jake playfully. "And they're my boys."

The three of them just smiled chuckling at my actions.

"You've met Embry before." I added giving my cousin a look.

"Right, I think I remember." Bella said nodding, she gave the two an awkward wave, looking nervous.

Embry and Quil shared a look smiling before turning on my cousin.

"So, the bike building is true." Quil said jokingly turning on me.

"Uh yeah." Bella said awkwardly. "Taught him everything he knows."

"What about the part where you're his girlfriend?" Quil added.

Jacob glared at him; I glanced over seeing a slight blush on his face. I turned back to Quil and shot him an amused look knowing his personality.

"Oh, we're just friends." Bella said making the look on Jake's face changed.

"Ooh burn..."

"At least Jake could actually get a girl." I retorted crossing my arms.

Jacob laughed at that.

"Double burn." Embry trailed off chuckling.

"Whatever girl."

"Do you not have a girlfriend?" Bella asked in confusion.

Jacob, Embry and I laughed loudly,  while Quil just glared playfully.

"He wishes." Embry and I said in sync, we shared a look grinning.

"Quil took his cousin to prom." Jacob told Bella making Em and I laugh again.

"Yeah, that's still a riot." Quil retorted. "You want funny Black? I'll give you funny."

Quil made a run at him, Jake dodged, and a small scuffle started as the two playfully wrestled, moving outside.

Embry had an amused look on his face, he sauntered over to Bella and I.

"I got five bucks on Quil." He told me wiggling eyebrows.

I glanced at him.

"You're on." I retorted as Bella got up and headed outside to watch the boys, Embry and I followed.

----

We spent half the day hanging around Jake and the boys, by the time we were walking out of the garage, it was getting dark out.

We walked out with the boys. Quil and Em gave us a wave goodbye before heading down the road.

"Okay I'm headed to Emily's." I said turning to Bella, ignoring Jake's face.

Opening my door I grabbed my bags from the back, slipping them over my shoulders and handed my keys over to my cousin.

"Please take care of my baby." I told her nodding towards my jeep.

She nodded.

"I promise, want me to drop you off?"

"Nah it's not that far of a walk, besides I can take the short cut." I said shrugging. "I know every trail besides I can protect myself." I gave her a hidden grin.

She smiled nodding at me knowing what I was saying.

Giving Jake a small glance, I waved goodbye and walked away leaving Bella and Jacob to themselves.

I made sure the two weren't paying attention to me and slipped into the trees. My phone buzzed, I took it out, spotting Quinn's ID and clicked the button.

"What's up Quinny?"

I heard a loud howl from the wolves in the forest, I knew the guys were on patrol.

I started to walk over tree roots and a few fallen trees, following the path, listening to Quinn telling me about her recent dream.

A twig snapped somewhere of to my right, making me stop in my tracks and look about. My eyes narrowed.

"Give me a second." I muttered into the phone.

Another twig snapped behind me and then one in front of me.

A hand reached for me from behind, but I quickly threw my own hand out and muttered a spell, a ball of light shot through and blasted Jared a few feet back, he let out a surprised yell and landed flat on his back.

"Oh my goddess! Quinn I gotta go." I said hanging up my phone. "Jared what the hell?!"

I turned to see Sam and Paul coming out from behind a few trees. Paul was shaking slightly making me frown while Sam tried to calm him down.

"Ow." Jared muttered in pain, getting to his feet.

"Well it's your own fault for sneaking up on me." I retorted staring at my imprinter as he came close.

I glanced at Sam pointedly, he gave me a short nod, removing his arm from Paul.

Scooting up to my boyfriend, I cautiously reached for him, wrapping him up in a hug. He was still shaking a little, laying his head on my shoulder and buried his face in the crook of my neck, I could feel his breath on my skin as he took in deep breaths, calming down.

Sighing he pulled back a little, keeping his arms around my waist and kissed my forehead.

His aura was a light blue now, telling me he was fully calm.

"Let's go I'm hungry." Jared whined rubbing his head. "And brusied, thanks Ellie."

I rolled my eyes in amusement.

"Sneak up on a witch and get a headache." I said shrugging, grabbing Paul's hand. We started walking with Sam leading the way. "Be lucky I didn't set you on fire or worse..."

Jared stopped in his tracks and stared at me in shock.

"You can do that?!"

We ignored him as we headed to Emily's.

Emily and Kim were in the kitchen doing their usual thing having girl talk while cooking.

Sam walked up kissing Emily's cheek, making her giggle, he opened the fridge and pulled out three cokes, handing one to Paul and the other to Jared.

The guys headed for the living room, sitting down in their normal spots while I joined Emily and Kim.

Rolling up my sleeves, I walked over to the cupboards and pulled down a popcorn popper, Em handed me a bag of kurnels while she turned and placed a batch of cookies into the oven.

Emily and I seem to have grown close over our time together, so close that we have become good friends that cook and bake together.  While Kim prefers to make conversation and just watch us.

The three of us have fallen into this routine.

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4/26/2024